Sony Criticized for Omitting Until Dawn Writers from Movie Credits

A former PlayStation narrative director, Kim MacAskill, has initiated a petition urging the creators of the Until Dawn movie to properly credit the game's original writers. As highlighted by Eurogamer, MacAskill's petition specifically calls on Sony to set a new standard in crediting for intellectual property (IP) in transmedia adaptations.

In her petition, MacAskill expressed frustration over the lack of recognition for the game developers who spent years crafting the iconic Until Dawn game. She noted that while the film credits the director and writers, it simply states "based on the Sony game" without mentioning the key developers. MacAskill argued that these creators deserve to be acknowledged for their significant contributions.

Further elaborating on LinkedIn, MacAskill compared the crediting of Until Dawn to HBO's adaptation of The Last of Us, which credits both Naughty Dog and Neil Druckmann, the game's writer and director. She questioned the disparity in treatment, particularly after being informed by Sony executives that she would never receive credit for her own IP creations due to her salaried status, which included no royalties, control, or ownership.

MacAskill's petition seeks to encourage Sony to revise its approach to IP crediting, suggesting an executive producer credit or similar acknowledgment for creators. She emphasized the importance of recognizing creative contributions to inspire future generations of developers and maintain the integrity of the industry.

In related news, Until Dawn Remastered is reportedly set to be part of the PlayStation Plus games lineup for May 2025, potentially as a promotional move for the Until Dawn movie. However, the movie itself received a lukewarm reception, earning a 5/10 in IGN's review, which criticized it for failing to capture the essence of the original horror game.